ck20 or lb1914?

farmerjim · Feb 26, 2005

was looking into either the ck20 or lb1914 w/fel and gear transmission. first off, i plan to use the tractor for snowremoval, woodlot work(hauling trailerw/firewood),mowing pasture/lawn, grading/boxblade driveway, haytedder and hayrake. there are only 3 dealers in my area and i've only been to 1 so far. i got to demo the lb and it was a very nice/powerful machine and seems to fit my uses well. they didn't stock any ck20 machines, as the dealer told me that it's "gutless" a gardeners tractor. maybe he was trying to push the lb because it was in stock? i don't really need anything bigger than 25 hp at the most as we have a couple of older deeres and case backhoe for the heavier work. you guys on the site w/ the cks seem to do a lot of work w/out any hp issues.

Steve_Miller · Feb 26, 2005

I'd try the other two dealers first. This one sounds like he is trying to dump something, not that there's anything wrong with the LB. I've got no complaints about my CK20J w/FEL and Backhoe.

Steve

mielkemanor · Feb 26, 2005

I am a very happy LB1914 owner. The tractor works great. with no problems. It has a FEl.. The CK20 and the LB 1914 are both very nice tractors. The LB 1914 is more old school design where the CK20 has a more modern operators control center. I liked the gear setup better on the LB1914. I would recommend trying out the CK20 before you decide. You can't go wrong with a Kioti. Good luck! /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

JayC · Feb 26, 2005

they didn't stock any ck20 machines, as the dealer told me that it's "gutless" a gardeners tractor. 

Dem sound like fightin words! /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif

I'd like to see that dealer try to tell that to the many satisfied CK20 owners on here. By reading owners posts about the CK20, it sounds like a brute. Do a search for the CK20 and you will get lots of results. If you are considering gear, I'm thinking the LB1914 may be a bit better because it is a shuttle-shift while the CK is not. But, the CK has a mid PTO while the LB does not. I don't know which mower you are considering, but that will need to be taken into account. Btw, I would look at a different dealer. Good luck. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

GerardC · Feb 26, 2005

The dealer sounds like a real jerk! I wouldn't give him a dime of MY money with an attitude like his. It also sounds to me like he won't be there after the sale.
Go to the other dealers and see what they have to say. Betcha they talk very highly about the CK20. And remember, you can always shop out-of-town as many, many others have done without any problems. Gerard

wart · Feb 27, 2005

hi I have a lb1914 with backhoe , york rake , 48" rototiller and 54" mower i love this tractor. but its weakness is pto horsepower, really noticeable when rototilling. but it pulls a 72" york rake and a 400 lb drag to smooth a camp rd. without much problem. it sure is a step up from the gravely model Ls that use to do all the work my kioti now does. 300 hrs and still working. I would try ck20 doing exactly what you intend to do with it and make your decision from there. good luck wart

Steve_Miller · Feb 27, 2005

One other thing is that the CK20J is syncronized between first and reverse.

Steve

KiotiJohn · Feb 27, 2005

Funny that dumb dealer says the CK20 is gutless as it has the same engine as the LB1914. You actually get a little more out of the 1914, but not enough to say the CK is gutless. He just doesn't have any, and for some crazy reason, doesn't want to buy any. They sell very very well around here, better than the LB.
If you need a mid mount mower, you'll need the CK, but I don't recommend the mid mount mower at all. Not a great design at this time. Rear mowers are better for me as I can back up under things, and have no trouble getting around obstacles. But it does take practice if you're not used to R.mount.
Either of these tractors is a good bet, the mechanical shuttle on the 1914, to me, makes it a little better choice in that respect, but the sloped hood and curved arm loaders of the CKs make it better in that respect. Just try them both, and take the one YOU'RE comfortable with. Just don't buy it from the liar. John

AutoUnionTypeC · Feb 27, 2005

( If you need a mid mount mower, you'll need the CK, but I don't recommend the mid mount mower at all. Not a great design at this time. )

Can you expand a bit on that? I'm curious as I bought my CK20 with the mmm/mmsb. /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif I thought they were the exact same decks with different drive components. Both made by First Choice........ Correct? Regards, J

KiotiJohn · Feb 27, 2005

( Can you expand a bit on that? I'm curious as I bought my CK20 with the mmm/mmsb. I thought they were the exact same decks with different drive components. Both made by First Choice........ Correct? Regards, J )
I don't know anything about the snowblowers (and don't want to!), but many of the MMMs had problems that may have been corrected by now. I can't remember now the exact problems they were having, but I think it was to do with the discharge. In any event, there were too many returns to satisfy me that the MMM is a good option. John